Spiritual Formation: A Lifetime Journey

Spiritual formation is a process that morphs as we grow and change. There is no one singular correct path this type of journey takes because each journey is as individual as the person who is experiencing it. Most obvious, the journey will be different from those who identify as religious and those who do not and will diversify with in each category. For example, the spiritual journey a Buddhist takes will be different from that of a believer in Judaism or Christianity. In fact, the journey will continue to diversify between Christians, male and female, age groups, even by demographic location. Consequently, the spiritual formation process is as diverse as it is intricate and we may never be able to discover all the journey options. Although individuals may not actively recognize they are experiencing spiritual formation it is a process that affects all. Because it is in human nature to question, learn, grow, and act, everyone to a certain extent is exposed to a unique spiritual formation journey.
With this in mind, the following will focus on the spiritual formation process within the Christian community. The concept of Christian community stems from the Bible with the perspective of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is compared to the humane body, a whole comprised of numerous parts; each individual part is required and created by God to form a cohesive whole, no matter believer or non-believer or social status (1 Corinthians 12). Similarly, the spiritual community is also comprised of bountiful parts and can be customized to the individual as the formation. Ashbrook appraises the significance of individuals and community, “Our spiritual formation is designed by God to happen in the context of Christian community, the chu...

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...keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11, NIV).
Ultimately, spiritual formation is a journey I will walk throughout my lifetime and it is one that I gladly am not alone in traveling. My end goal is union with God in His Kingdom, as I believe it is for all Christians. I intend on allowing His grace and love to flow freely through me and show in my heart as well as in my actions.

Works Cited

Ashbrook, P. (2009). Mansions of the heart: Exploring the seven stages of spiritual growth. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass.
Barker, K. L., & Burdick, D. W. (1995). The NIV study Bible. (10th ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Bunyan, J. (2003). The pilgrim’s progress. (Green ed.). Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, INC.
Hately, J. (2010, Feb 27). Biblical community-why it’s so i important. Retrieved from
http://wp.bikerschurch.com/?p=2113